Apparatus for opening baled springs



Dec. 29., 1970 H- w. METZG ER 3,550,237

APPARATUS FOR OPENING BALED SPRINGS Filed April 19, 1968 INVENTOR H5, 2 Ilsa/0m; M. Mar-20:4

BY ZZM 82/10 ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,550,237 APPARATUS FOR OPENING BALED SPRINGS Hendrix W. Metzger, Boonville, Iud., assignor to Metzgcr Construction Co., Inc., Boonville, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Filed Apr. 19, 1968, Ser. No. 722,659 Int. Cl. B23p 19/02, 19/04 US. Cl. 29-200 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE In order to ship springs economically, such as box springs, innersprings, cushion springs or the like, the manufacturers customarily compress a number of individual springs, and bale such together through a wooden and wire framework. The resulting unit may approximate, for example, in the instance of innersprings, a compressed height of 8 inches to 12 inches, and a released height of 6 feet to 8 feet. Heretofore, the user of such springs, as a mattress manufacturer, encountered difficulty, as well as safety problems, in releasing the baled unit into its respective number of individual springs.

In this connection, one approach was to encircle the baled unit with heavy duty chains, with workmen sitting on the floor and controlling the release of such chains after the wooden and wire shipping framework of the baled unit was broken. Due to the extreme force exerted by the springs towards a release position, the movement of the chains had to be carefully controlled and, in any event, oftentimes the wooden framework would fly in all directions, as when the release force became uneven, or even the individual springs might fly into the surrounding area. The preceding, obviously, presented a serious safety problem.

The invention provides an important approach to the release of baled springs in affording a high degree of control and excellent safety features, as well. In this connection, and briefly, the invention is defined as a wheeled framework having a rotatable axle carrying at least two reels of cables and a brake drum. A release handle is provided for the selective control of the aforesaid brake drum. Chains extend from the framework and beneath the baled springs. The cables are drawn over the baled springs and connect to the chains and, thereafter, the combined cables and chains are placed in tension so as to snugly secure the baled springs.

The framework surrounding the shipped bale is then broken, releasing the respective individual springs to exert an upward force against the aforesaid cables. The operator selectively releases the brake and carefully controls the upward movement of the springs to a fully released position. This invention provides a high degree of safety for the operator, minimizing any throwing action on the part of the wooden shipping framework, and eliminates any uncontrolled release of the individual springs.

A better understanding of the invention will become more apparent from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view in side elevation of the invention, shown in conjunction with a baled spring unit (in phantom); and,

3,550,237. Patented Dec. 29, 1970 FIG. 3 is a perspective view, partly fragmentary, showing certain details of the invention.

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the drawing and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

Referring now to the figures, the apparatus defining the invention comprises a framework 12, typically supported by wheels 14 and having a forwardly extending bottom flange 12a and portions 12b for reinforcing and positioning purposes. Instead of a continuous bottom flange 12a, as shown in the drawing, several projecting fingers may be employed.

In any event, the framework 12 mounts collars 15, as by welding, for example, where a hollow axle or shaft 17 extends through such collars 15. Sleeves 19 are positioned adjacent collars 15, where one end of a link chain 20 is secured to each of the sleeves 19, the latter being rotatable on the shaft 17 (see FIG. 3). As will be understood, the link chains 20 may be secured to other portions of the framework 12.

Cable receiving structures 22 are secured to opposite ends of the shaft 17, each typically including a winding drum 22a for cable 24 and a cable guide and spring tension assembly 22b, where an end of each cable 24 extends through an opening in the shaft 17 in a fixed connection (see FIG. 2). The cable guide and spring tension assembly 22b are each secured to a spacer 26 disposed between the sleeves 19 and the cable winding drum 22a. Spring means (not shown) urge each assembly 22b into an operative position, i.e. for effective feeding and withdrawal of the cables 24.

A brake drum 27 is secured to the shaft 17, where a brake band 29 selectively engages same. The brake drum 27 includes extending control arms 27a, for purposes to be discussed below. In this connection, and referring specifically to FIGS. 2 and 3, the braking structure includes an upwardly projecting portion 29b on the brake band 29 which is received in a sleeve 30 fixedly secured to a portion of the framework 12. While not shown, a spring and washer are disposed within the sleeve 30, and braking operation is secured through rotation of a rod 32 having a threaded lower end, the latter bearing against the washer and spring, urging the brake band 29 into engagement with brake drum 27. The rod 32 has a handle 32a for ease of operation.

In use, the link chains 20 are laid forwardly of the apparatus, and the baled springs (shown in phantom in FIG. 2) placed thereon. The cables 24, which are wound around the cable drum 22a, are pulled forwardly and hooked to the free ends of the link chains 20. With the brake released, the brake drum 27, and, hence, the shaft 17, is rotated in a counterclockwise direction (in the figures) through engagement by the operators foot with the extending control arms 27a on the brake drum 27. It might be noted that the use of the chains 20 may be omitted, i.e. the cables 24 connected directly to the framework, from beneath the baled springs, by looping for placement of the baled springs, but the described arrangement provides simplicity in use.

The simplicity is accomplished until the combined cables and chains are in a tension condition, as in FIG. 2, and the brake is then employed. At this point, the wooden framework surrounding the baled springs is broken, whereupon the force of the springs is in an upwardly and downwardly direction in FIG. 2. It should be understood that at this time the unbaled, yet unreleased springs, are con-' fined within the cable and chain combinations.

The operator then releases the brake, permitting upward movement of the baled springs, where additional cable 24 passes from the Winding drum 22a of each cable receiving structure 22. Such operation continues until the baled springs are totally released, meaning that, in FIG. 2, the compressed springs move upwardly, and as stated, to six to eight feet in height. The release of the baled springs is gradual and eliminates the hazards of prior approaches, i.e. the worry of sudden spring release and possible danger to the operator.

From the preceding, it should be apparent that the invention satisfies an important need to the industry, in an apparatus which provides safety and is portable and readily movable to the site of the baled springs. The apparatus is, of course, susceptible to various changes within the spirit of the invention. For example, the frame work may have a different configuration, and other braking arrangements employed, including the type having a self-return mechanism. Thus, the above description should be considered illustrative, and not as limiting the scope of the following claims:

I claim:

1. Apparatus for opening baled springs comprising a framework, a shaft rotatably disposed on said framework, means wrapping said baled springs and having one end connecting said shaft and another end connecting said framework, and braking means selectively controlling the rotation of said shaft and the release of said wrapping means.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 where said wrapping means is a cable.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 where said cable is received on a drum disposed on said shaft.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 where said wrapping means is a combined cable and chain.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 where said cable feeds from a drum disposed on said shaft and extends over said baled springs, and where a free end of said cable connects to said chain which underlies said baled springs and connects to said framework.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 where said braking means includes projecting members for manually controlling the rotation of said shaft.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 where a collar is rotatably mounted on said shaft, and where one end of said chain connects to said collar.

8. The apparatus of claim 3 where the force of the unbaled springs unwinds the cable from said cable drum.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 where said framework is portable.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,820,282 1/1958 Schneider, Jr. 2920OD 3,110,099 11/1963 Murphy 29426 3,377,687 4/1968 De Chellis 29200D THOMAS H. EAGER, Primary Examiner US Cl. X.R. 29427 

